Scrap rod feed system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for efficiently drawing scrap copper rod from a source coil and for guiding the rod into a shaft furnace in which the rod is melted down and for protecting the furnace from harm as additional copper material is fed into the furnace.

United States Patent Inventor Dale W. Rodolff Inspiration, Ariz. Appl. No. 876,673 Filed Nov. 14, 1969 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 Assignee Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company Inspiration, Ariz.

SCRAP ROD FEED SYSTEM 2 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

U.S. C1 266/33 S, 75/44 S, 75/65 int. Cl C22b 9/00 Field of Search 266/33 R,

33 S. 27, 34 A, 34 T; 75/41, 43, 44 S, 65

I 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,255,379 9/1941 Crawford 266/27 2,506,598 5/1950 Johnson 266/34 T 2,577,837 12/1951 Zifferer 266/34 T 2,760,771 8/1956 Knappe 266/27 2,814,560 11/1957 Ballantine 75/65 R 3,137,753 6/1964 Feichtinger 266/34 T 3,199,977 8/1965 Phillips et a1. 266/33 R Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor and Adams ABSTRACT: An apparatus is disclosed for efficiently drawing scrap copper rod from a source coil and for guiding the rod into a shaft furnace in which the rod is melted down and for protecting the furnace from harm as additional copper material is fed into the furnace.

PATENTEDNDV 23 mm 3,622, 139

DALE W. RODOLFF ATTORNEYS SCRAP ROD FEED SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to copper-melting furnaces and particularly to systems or apparatus for feeding furnaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During the manufacture of copper rod, substantial quantities are frequently rejected as not conforming to specification. Copper scrap rod is thus created which ordinarily has required special handling, storage and remelting.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus for directing scrap copper rod into a shaft furnace which simultaneously may be used to melt bundles of copper cathodes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises an apparatus for feeding scrap copper rod into a shaft furnace including a source coil of scrap copper rod, guide means connected to the furnace, the guide means defining a feed opening to the upper end of said furnace and a means for drawing the rod from the source coil and for directing the rod to said guide means and into the furnace. At the upper end of the furnace is a second feed opening for the reception of bundles of copper cathodes which can be received simultaneously with the scrap rod. The large amount of surface area of the rod-filling voids around the cathodes tends to increase furnace efficiency while the coiled rod tends also to cushion the impact of bundles of cathodes as they are deposited in the furnace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE discloses a shaft furnace in conjunction with the apparatus of the present invention for feeding scrap rod thereto while other copper feed material may also be received by the furnace.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, a shaft furnace of conventional design has been shown which is of cylindrical fonn having an exterior upright wall 11 lined with refractory material 12. The furnace is fired by burner elements l3a-d and is equipped at its base with a tap 14 through which the material in the furnace is drawn once it has become molten. The upper end of the furnace defines in part a primary feed opening 15 having a door 16. The furnace is adapted to receive bundles of copper cathodes 17 which have performed the previous function of extracting copper from an electrolyte solution during a refining step. Accordingly, the primary function of the furnace 10 is to melt the bundles of copper cathodes after these have been deposited in the furnace through opening 15 therein.

The furnace 10 is further equipped with a guide tube I8 which defines a second feed opening 18' into the furnace. Scrap copper rod 19 laid in a source coil 20 is drawn from the coil 20 over a pulley 21 and between the pinch rolls 22, 23 by means of electric motor 24. The motor 24 drives pinch roll 23 through a gear reduction unit and coupling 25, 26. Pinch roll 22 is an idler roller and is loaded by spring 27 toward roll 23.

By means of the pinch rolls 22, 23 the scrap rod I9 is drawn over the pulley 21 and is directed into the guide tube 18 for passage therefrom into the interior of the furnace 10. The position of the guide tube 18 with respect to the furnace I0 is such that the scrap rod 19 will tend to form coils 19' within the interior of the furnace 10. This coiling arrangement is advantageous since bundles of cathodes 17 tend to be cushioned by the coils 19 when deposited into the interior of the furnace. A further advantage is provided because the combination of coils and bundles more efficiently uses the interior space of the furnace and thus furnace efficiency is improved.

It will be understood that the guide tube 18 may be connected to the furnace through the same opening used for the introduction thereto of bundles of cathodes 17.

According to the invention, therefore, a unique and useful feed system for feeding scrap copper rod into a shaft furnace is provided which is compatible with the primary function of the furnace, i.e., the melting of copper cathodes. The system avoids difficulties previously found in the handling and remelting of scrap rod and, furthermore, efficiently melts the rod together with the primary melt material while providing protection for the interior of the furnace.

The foregoing description has related to a preferred embodiment and is therefore representative. In order to appreciate fully the spirit and scope of the present invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a shaft furnace which includes a primary feed opening in the upper sidewall thereof through which materials such as bundles of copper cathode and the like can enter to charge said furnace, the improvement com prising, a secondary scrap copper rod feed opening defined by the upper sidewall of said furnace, a guide tube externally of said furnace connected to said secondary opening, said guide tube being so arranged with respect to said opening that said rod will form a coil in said furnace at a position beneath the primary feed opening, whereby the coil is in a position to cushion the bundles of copper cathode when these are deposited in the furnace so as to provide protection for the interior of the furnace.

2. The combination according to claim I in which said secondary feed opening is approximately opposite said primary feed opening, the scrap copper rod is supplied from a source coil and feed means are provided intermediate said coil and said furnace. 

1. In combination with a shaft furnace which includes a primary feed opening in the upper sidewall thereof through which materials such as bundles of copper cathode and the like can enter to charge said furnace, the improvement comprising, a secondary scrap copper rod feed opening defined by the upper sidewall of said furnace, a guide tube externally of said furnace connected to said secondary opening, said guide tube being so arranged with respect to said opening that said rod will form a coil in said furnace at a position beneath the primary feed opening, whereby the coil is in a position to cushion the bundles of copper cathode when these are deposited in the furnace so as to provide protection for the interior of the furnace.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said secondary feed opening is approximately opposite said primary feed opening, the scrap copper rod is supplied from a source coil and feed means are provided intermediate said coil and said furnace. 